Arizona Christian University filed suit last week against the Washington Elementary School District for permanently cutting ties with the university because of its religious beliefs.
For the past 11 years, Arizona Christian University and Washington Elementary School District, the largest elementary school district in Arizona serving Phoenix and Glendale, had a mutually beneficial partnership where students in the university’s elementary educational program would student-teach and shadow teachers in the school district.
That partnership, however, ended abruptly two weeks ago when the school district terminated its relationship with ACU because of the university’s religious beliefs on biblical marriage and sexuality even though no complaints had been made about an Arizona Christian student or alumnus.
The school district’s decision to revoke its relationship and cease all future agreements with the school because of its religious status and beliefs violates the university’s constitutionally protected freedoms.
ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman said, “The school district is in blatant violation of the U.S. Constitution, not to mention state law that protects ACU’s religious freedom. Washington Elementary School District officials are causing irreparable harm to ACU every day they force it to choose between its religious beliefs and partnering with the area’s public schools.”